If you think Toastmasters is all serious speeches – think again.
The Toastmasters Wairarapa club can boast the winner of the 2023 District 72 Humorous Speech Contest trophy, Braden Crocker, who out-spoke fellow contenders from the South Island and lower North Island.
Crocker entered his local Humorous Speech Contest for a bit of fun and “had the club in stitches”, Toastmasters Wairarapa spokesperson Geraldine Durrant said.
His speech was titled ‘One Dance Move Can Change Your Life’.
“Then it got serious, as he got to go to the next phase at Area, Regional and then District level,” Durrant said.
“Every time Braden delivered his speech, he polished it up and practised it in front of his fellow toastmasters and every time, it made them laugh.”
Crocker’s practice was relentless: “He even organised to deliver his speech to different audiences in Palmerston North and Wellington, to test it,” Durrant said.
“The proof is indeed in the pudding, as he won the audience every time and ended up winning the [District] Humorous Speech Contest.”
Toastmasters Wairarapa, which meets every other Tuesday in Carterton, is inviting those interested in speech-making to come along to listen to their upcoming round of contests, held during October and November.
“Come to the funniest Toastmasters Club in New Zealand,” Durrant said.
“This is an opportunity to step up the game for Toastmasters members and an invitation for anyone in our community to come and listen to the speeches.”
Speakers can enter International Speech, Humorous Speech, Table Topic [an impromptu speech] or Evaluation Speech categories.
There are 265 community and corporate Toastmasters clubs across New Zealand. Their aim is to help members build confidence in public speaking, learn speaking and listening techniques, develop skills to captivate an audience and to make lasting friendships. Clubs are run by volunteers.
The next meeting of Wairarapa Toastmasters is Tuesday, October 24 at 7.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall, 204-210 High St, Carterton. The next competition is on Tuesday, November 7, including the Humorous Speech contest. Contact Geraldine Durrant 0204 0848921 or president [email protected]
